The Hope Arewa Development Initiative (HADI) has kicked against move by the Kaduna State government to expand the sum of?? N238 million to purchase 34 units of Toyota Camry cars for the 34 members of the state House of Assembly.
The group, who are in the vanguard of those pushing for Nigerians to accept and buy made in Nigeria goods said it received the news of? government’s plan with sadness and dismay.
?A press statement made available to LEADERSHIP WEEKEND and signed by the secretary-general of HADI, Abdulmalik Mohammed, said the action was not only unfortunate, but a slap on the face of the millions of the people of Kaduna State.
It further said the action of the Kaduna State government was a flagrant disregard to the Local Content Act recently signed into law by President Goodluck Jonathan, and by implication a grand design to close down the Kaduna-based automobile industry.
“The need to patronise Nigerian made goods in this era of globalisation of world trade and investment cannot be overemphasised, little wonder the Nigerian government is committing millions of naira to mobilise and sensitise Nigerians on the need to patronise made in Nigeria goods.
“It is therefore incumbent on all Nigerians to readily accept and patronise our products. While it is an irony that millions of Nigerians today respect the Chinese products, products assembled and manufactured in Nigeria are on a daily basis rejected and termed as inferior, or what is more, even government agencies and parastatals go the extra mile to patronise foreign goods to the detriment of our Nigerian made products.
“We recall that as governor of Kaduna State, Namadi Sambo? directed all parastatals,? local government councils and ministries in the state to patronise PAN. His statement was aptly followed with a presidential directive from Goodluck Jonathan himself who, on a visit to the company, called on Nigerians to patronise PAN.
“It is, however, disheartening and discouraging to hear that the Kaduna State government under Sir Patrick Yakowa who was part and parcel of Namadi’s cabinet and political train would now be expanding such huge amount to purchase Toyota cars outside the shores of this country.
‘’We are not in support of the Kaduna State government’s move. We strongly believe that this neglect and lack of patronage by one its own shareholder is a calculated attempt to close the company. This is a clear case of how state governments are killing industries so as to patronise foreign products.
“We call on Vice President Namadi Sambo, who is the political leader of the North and a major stakeholder in Kaduna State to quickly intervene in the interest of the teeming people of the state. This is not only unfair but unjust, and does not make any economic sense,” the group said.